Municipal court judge to seek district court of appeals seat

December 22, 2013

LISBON - Carol Robb, a judge at the Columbiana County Municipal Court, announced her intentions this week to run for the 7th District Court of Appeals in next year's general election.

The seat she will run for is being vacated by Judge Joseph Vukovich, who plans to retire, and the term would begin on Feb. 9, 2015.

Robb said while she was an attorney with Roth, Stephens and Blair LPA in the Youngstown area, she did a lot of appellant work and it is an area of law which she enjoys.

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"It's an opportunity to serve Columbiana County and a lot of areas in a different capacity," Robb said. "I have thoroughly enjoyed this position and have been honored to serve this community."

Robb took her current position in 2005 after serving four years as a magistrate at Columbiana County Common Pleas Court. While serving as one of two judges at the County Municipal Court, Robb said she has found the position challenging. She and Judge Mark Frost have initiated some new programs at the court, such as Successful Treatment And Recovery (STAR), the first mental health docket certified by the Ohio Supreme Court.

She has also served on the Ohio Supreme Court Specialty Docket Advisory Committee, the Specialty Docket Commission and serves on the Ohio Judicial College, where she co-chairs the Specialty Docket Section.

Additionally, she has been involved of utilizing the Bridges Out of Poverty program to offer training to help those defendants who are low income or unemployed address some of the issues, which cause them to continue to recommit crimes.

The court has also used programs such as electronically monitored house arrest to save taxpayer dollars and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to help suspended drivers work to regain a legal driving status.

Robb resides in the New Waterford area with her husband of 41 years, Ken. They have three adult daughters. Robb is an active member of the United Methodist Church, a member of the Farm Bureau, the County Bar Association, the Ohio Municipal Judges Association, Crestview Local Superintendent's Advisory Committee and the County Community Corrections Planning Board.

To formalize her decision to run, Robb will have until Feb. 5 to file her petitions with the board of elections.